Al Chieco of National Grid outside the utility's Broadway headquarters in Albany. Chieco was an assistant line supervisor when an October snow storm crippled the region 30 years ago.

Al Chieco of National Grid outside the utility's Broadway headquarters in Albany. Chieco was an assistant line supervisor when an October snow storm crippled the region 30 years ago.

Photo: National Grid

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Phil Hanby, left, and his cousin Jim Bonesteel, center, stand in their tuxedoes, by limousines on Phil's wedding day, as Phil's nephews help dig out from "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that caused power outages and fallen trees on October 4, 1987 in Wynantskill, NY. Only about half of the guests made it to the wedding of Phil and Marie in nearby Troy. (Provided courtesy of the Hanby Family to the Times Union)

Phil Hanby, left, and his cousin Jim Bonesteel, center, stand in their tuxedoes, by limousines on Phil's wedding day, as Phil's nephews help dig out from "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that

Dry ice was made available to residents in West Sand Lake, N.Y., Oct. 6, 1987, following widespread damage caused by a freak autumn snowstorm on Oct. 4. Fran DeFilippis, left, and Michael Hicks, right, divide a ... more

Rick Lemperle picks his way past fallen trees at the corner of Mercer St. and S. Allen in Albany, N.Y., Oct. 6, 1987, following widespread damage caused by a freak autumn snowstorm on Oct. 4. (Paul D. Kniskern Sr. / Times Union archive) less

Rick Lemperle picks his way past fallen trees at the corner of Mercer St. and S. Allen in Albany, N.Y., Oct. 6, 1987, following widespread damage caused by a freak autumn snowstorm on Oct. 4. (Paul D. Kniskern ... more

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William Fasake outside his home on Baker Ave. in Niskayuna, N.Y., Oct. 7, 1987, where a large oak tree fell following a freak autumn snowstorm on Oct. 4. (Arnold Le Fevre / Times Union archive)

William Fasake outside his home on Baker Ave. in Niskayuna, N.Y., Oct. 7, 1987, where a large oak tree fell following a freak autumn snowstorm on Oct. 4. (Arnold Le Fevre / Times Union archive)

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George Albert surveys downed branches in front of his North Main Ave. home in Albany, Oct., 4, 1987, following freak autumn snowstorm. (Jack Madigan / Times Union archive)

George Albert surveys downed branches in front of his North Main Ave. home in Albany, Oct., 4, 1987, following freak autumn snowstorm. (Jack Madigan / Times Union archive)

Photo: JACK MADIGAN

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1987 family snapshot shows the Hanby wedding party on their way to ceremony Oct.4,1987. The Hanby bridal party vowed to get to the church any way they could despite the October 4,1987, snowstorm, even if they had to push their limos. So they did.

1987 family snapshot shows the Hanby wedding party on their way to ceremony Oct.4,1987. The Hanby bridal party vowed to get to the church any way they could despite the October 4,1987, snowstorm, even if they

Phil Hanby, left, and his cousin Jim Bonesteel, center, stand in their tuxedoes, by limousines on Phil's wedding day, as Phil's nephews help dig out from "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that caused power outages and fallen trees on October 4, 1987 in Wynantskill, NY. Only about half of the guests made it to the wedding of Phil and Marie in nearby Troy. They celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on October 4, 2012. (Provided courtesy of the Hanby Family to the Times Union)

Phil Hanby, left, and his cousin Jim Bonesteel, center, stand in their tuxedoes, by limousines on Phil's wedding day, as Phil's nephews help dig out from "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that

Marie and Phil Hanby were married on October 4, 1987, the day of "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that caused power outages and fallen trees that caused only about half of their guests to make it to the wedding in Troy. They stand near their home on Wednesday Oct. 3, 2012 in Grafton, NY. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union) less

Marie and Phil Hanby were married on October 4, 1987, the day of "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that caused power outages and fallen trees that caused only about half of their guests to make ... more

Photo: Philip Kamrass

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Marie and Phil Hanby were married on October 4, 1987, the day of "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that caused power outages and fallen trees that caused only about half of their guests to make it to the wedding in Troy. They look through their wedding album near their home on Wednesday Oct. 3, 2012 in Grafton, NY. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union) less

Marie and Phil Hanby were married on October 4, 1987, the day of "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that caused power outages and fallen trees that caused only about half of their guests to make ... more

Photo: Philip Kamrass

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Marie and Phil Hanby were married on October 4, 1987, the day of "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that caused power outages and fallen trees that caused only about half of their guests to make it to the wedding in Troy. She holds their wedding album near their home on Wednesday Oct. 3, 2012 in Grafton, NY. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union) less

Marie and Phil Hanby were married on October 4, 1987, the day of "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that caused power outages and fallen trees that caused only about half of their guests to make ... more

Photo: Philip Kamrass

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Marie and Phil Hanby were married on October 4, 1987, the day of "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that caused power outages and fallen trees that caused only about half of their guests to make it to the wedding in Troy. They look through their wedding album with their son Charlie, 13, left, near their home on Wednesday Oct. 3, 2012 in Grafton, NY. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union) less

Marie and Phil Hanby were married on October 4, 1987, the day of "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that caused power outages and fallen trees that caused only about half of their guests to make ... more

Photo: Philip Kamrass

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Marie and Phil Hanby were married on October 4, 1987, the day of "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that caused power outages and fallen trees that caused only about half of their guests to make it to the wedding in Troy. They look through their wedding album with their son Charlie, 13, left, near their home on Wednesday Oct. 3, 2012 in Grafton, NY. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union) less

Marie and Phil Hanby were married on October 4, 1987, the day of "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that caused power outages and fallen trees that caused only about half of their guests to make ... more

Photo: Philip Kamrass

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Rick Lemperle picks his way past fallen trees at the corner of Mercer St. and S. Allen in Albany, N.Y., Oct. 6, 1987, following widespread damage caused by a freak Autumn snowstorm on Oct. 4. (Paul D. Kniskern Sr. / Times Union archive) less

Rick Lemperle picks his way past fallen trees at the corner of Mercer St. and S. Allen in Albany, N.Y., Oct. 6, 1987, following widespread damage caused by a freak Autumn snowstorm on Oct. 4. (Paul D. Kniskern ... more

Phil Hanby, left, and his cousin Jim Bonesteel, center, stand in their tuxedoes, by limousines on Phil's wedding day, as Phil's nephews help dig out from "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that caused power outages and fallen trees on October 4, 1987 in Wynantskill, NY. Only about half of the guests made it to the wedding of Phil and Marie in nearby Troy. They celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on October 4, 2012. (Provided courtesy of the Hanby Family to the Times Union)

Phil Hanby, left, and his cousin Jim Bonesteel, center, stand in their tuxedoes, by limousines on Phil's wedding day, as Phil's nephews help dig out from "Fall's Snowy Crippler," a freak early snowstorm that

Dry ice was made available to residents in West Sand Lake, N.Y., Oct. 6, 1987, following widespread damage caused by a freak Autumn snowstorm on Oct. 4. Fran DeFilippis, left, and Michael Hicks, right, divide a ... more

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Mike Peters of National Grid talks about plans for crew of 40 from the Capital Region traveling down to Tampa, Fla. for storm aid. (Larry Rulison/Times Union)

Mike Peters of National Grid talks about plans for crew of 40 from the Capital Region traveling down to Tampa, Fla. for storm aid. (Larry Rulison/Times Union)

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National Grid crews prepare to leave the New Baltimore Thruway stop at dawn on Tuesday Sept. 12, 2017 bound for Tampa, Fla. for storm restoration work in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

National Grid crews prepare to leave the New Baltimore Thruway stop at dawn on Tuesday Sept. 12, 2017 bound for Tampa, Fla. for storm restoration work in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Photo: By Larry Rulison

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Evelyn Incitty of Schenectady speaks out against National Grid's $331 million rate increase for upstate customers Tuesday at Schenectady County Community College.

Evelyn Incitty of Schenectady speaks out against National Grid's $331 million rate increase for upstate customers Tuesday at Schenectady County Community College.

Photo: By Larry Rulison

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Andrew Kennedy, the CEO of the Center for Economic Growth, walking to make comments in support of National Grid's $331 million rate increase.

Andrew Kennedy, the CEO of the Center for Economic Growth, walking to make comments in support of National Grid's $331 million rate increase.

A National Grid truck on the side of Route 29 awaits its next assignment as more than 30,000 National Grid customers are without power in parts of Saratoga County Tuesday Nov. 24, 2015 in Saratoga Springs, NY. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) less

A National Grid truck on the side of Route 29 awaits its next assignment as more than 30,000 National Grid customers are without power in parts of Saratoga County Tuesday Nov. 24, 2015 in Saratoga Springs, NY. ... more

Thirty years ago this week, a freak storm dubbed the "snowy crippler" unexpectedly socked the Capital Region, dumping half a foot or more of wet, heavy snow on the area and knocking out power to more than 200,000 electric customers, especially those in rural areas of Rensselaer and Columbia counties.

A punch no one saw coming — the National Weather Service had only been expecting a rain storm — the snow left thousands of local residents without power for a week or more, canceled school for several days and forced this newspaper to use the Troy Record's printing press to get out its combined Times Union and Knickerbocker News print editions.

Al Chieco was an assistant line supervisor for what was Niagara Mohawk at the time, just two years removed from college, when the storm hit overnight. He woke up early on the morning of Oct. 4, 1987, a Sunday, to the sound of tree limbs and branches buckling under the weight of the unexpected snow.

"I heard trees cracking that woke me up and then found a bunch of snow and tree damage," says Chieco, now a vice president with National Grid, which acquired Niagara Mohawk in 2002. "I had to go into work very early that Sunday morning."

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The roads in the Capital Region were so bad from downed tree limbs and power lines that the normal route from Chieco's home in Clifton Park to Niagara Mohawk's headquarters on Broadway in Albany was nearly impossible to navigate.

Chieco was told instead to drive down Old Niskayuna Road in Colonie in his company-issued K-car to radio in which circuits had been damaged and which lines were down.

The storm that was supposed to be rain but turned into a massive snow storm was caused by a cold front that unexpectedly came down from Canada during a time that was peak foliage season. The combination of the snow on trees limbs that hadn't lost all of their leaves yet created the conditions that caused so many tree branches to break and fall.

Back then, that was how outages were predicted and damage was assessed. Employees would plot outages on a wall map by hand at the Broadway headquarters based on calls from customers and surveys from employees like Chieco who were out in the field.

"I spent the first hour of that day looking at the circuits around that area," Chieco said. "Anyone that can get you that type of information is useful."

After that, it was nonstop work on repairs, putting in 17 and 18 hour days, with enough time off to sleep. Although about half of Niagara Mohawk customers — about 100,000 — got their service restored, some outages lasted more than a week. No one got a day off until all of the company's customers had the lights back on.

"There were no breaks," Chieco said.

Niagara Mohawk did have one thing in its favor. After the storm, temperatures returned to the 60s, which melted the snow away quickly.

"By the middle of the week, all that was left to indicate that a snowstorm had occurred was all the downed trees and power lines," Neil Stuart, a senior forecaster with the National Weather Service in Albany, wrote in a recently published historical account of the 1987 storm. Stuart was a University at Albany student at the time and says the storm was studied carefully to better predict future rain storms that suddenly change to snow.

"These studies are recognized internationally as important references for all forecasters that are being trained early in their careers to help them better forecast these types of events," Stuart wrote.

Thirty years removed from that strange yet destructive weather event, Chieco believes that National Grid and state utility regulators have made huge strides in preparing the electrical grid to be more resilient in storms and improve restoration times.

Chieco says that since that time, utility poles have been made larger and stronger, and the electric wires themselves have been made more weather-resistant.

More fuses have been installed to keep outages from becoming too widespread, and tree-trimming programs have been put on shorter cycles.

And perhaps just as importantly, National Grid has adopted a digital outage management software system that uses real-time data and other technologies to provide up-to-the-minute restoration estimates to customers and helps optimize how crews are dispatched to fix damage in the most efficient way possible.

"It takes the guessing game away," Chieco said. "We can see everything in front of us right away. It all fits together like a puzzle."

The look back to that October 1987 storm comes amid a turbulent hurricane season that has devastated parts of Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands with successive storms.

At the same time, National Grid is asking state regulators to approve one of the largest rate increases in years.

National Grid wants to raise its upstate gas and electric rates by $331 million a year, which would increase the typical monthly residential gas and electric bill by $17.63 a month.

The state Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities in New York, is expected to vote on the proposal next spring.

The company has said the increase is needed to keep paying for new gas and electric grid infrastructure that helps cut down on the number of outages, including in the wake of storms when trees often become the biggest enemy of electric lines and utility poles.

National Grid's rate proposal includes $2.7 billion in capital investment over three years to address what it says is the increased frequency and severity of storms. The company says it spent $6 billion on such storm hardening and replacement programs over the past 10 years.

Chieco says those improvements — a lot of which were made in the wake of tropical storms Irene and Lee in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012 — have made the upstate electric grid stronger. Some of the most expensive upgrades have included flood-mitigation measures such as moving electric substations to higher ground.

"I do think the grid is in better shape than it was 30 years ago," Cheico says. "But there's still a lot of other infrastructure out there (that needs replacing). We're in a way just keeping pace."

The administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, which has sought stringent new inspection and preparedness requirements for utilities in the wake of Irene, Lee and Sandy, has pointed to climate change for the seemingly higher frequency and severity of storms.

In 2013, Cuomo launched the the Moreland Commission on Utility Storm Preparation and Response to investigate the storm response by National Grid and other utilities. And the 2013-14 state budget gave the PSC stronger oversight powers over utilities and how they prep for storms and respond to major outages.

"Under Gov. Cuomo, the PSC's priority is to ensure that utilities prepare for extreme weather events — occurring more and more frequently — and for other significant events," John Rhodes, the chair of the PSC said. "We measure utilities on their response times and how quickly and effectively they restore service to customers. We review emergency operational plans, emphasize this as a management priority, and hold utilities accountable for performance."

Chieco says he doesn't know if major storms have gotten worse over his career. "We had a run of some really bad ones (in 2011 and 2012), but I'm not qualified to say," Chieco said. "I remember a lot of storms through the last 30 years. They're all different. This summer has been difficult because we had a lot of smaller storms."

He says one thing that hasn't ever changed has been the role of the National Weather Service in Albany, which was just as important and adept in 1987 as it is today.

"We as an organization really appreciate the National Weather Service," Chieco said. "We've always had a really good relationship with the National Weather Service."